Patents Assigned to Space
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Patent number: 6559742Abstract: A flexible waveguide has a flexible wall enclosing an elongated cylindrical passage for transmission of an electromagnetic wave along the passage. A succession of corrugations is disposed along an interior surface of the wall facing the passage. The corrugations are spaced apart by a distance less than approximately 0.2 wavelength of the electromagnetic wave, each of the corrugations having a height greater than the distance but less than approximately 0.5 wavelength of the electromagnetic wave, and each corrugation having a curved surface to minimize loss in the transmission of the electromagnetic wave.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2001Date of Patent: May 6, 2003Assignee: Space Systems/Loral, Inc.Inventors: Slawomir J. Fiedziuszko, George A. Fiedziuszko
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Patent number: 6560375Abstract: A method of stabilizing and registering a video image in multiple video fields of a video sequence provides accurate determination of the image change in magnification, rotation and translation between video fields, so that the video fields may be accurately corrected for these changes in the image in the video sequence. In a described embodiment, a key area of a key video field is selected which contains an image which it is desired to stabilize in a video sequence. The key area is subdivided into nested pixel blocks and the translation of each of the pixel blocks from the key video field to a new video field is determined as a precursor to determining change in magnification, rotation and translation of the image from the key video field to the new video field.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2002Date of Patent: May 6, 2003Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: David H. Hathaway, Paul J. Meyer
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Patent number: 6558698Abstract: The invention is directed to microcapsules encapsulating an aqueous solution of a protein, drug or other bioactive substance inside a semi-permeable membrane. The microcapsules are formed by interfacial coacervation where shear forces are limited to 0-100 dynes per square centimeter. The resulting uniform microcapsules can then be subjected to dewatering in order to cause the internal solution to become supersaturated with the dissolved substance. This dewatering allows controlled nucleation and crystallization of the dissolved substance. The crystal-filled microcapsules can be stored, keeping the encapsulated crystals in good condition for further direct use in x-ray crystallography or as injectable formulations of the dissolved drug, protein or other bioactive substance.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2000Date of Patent: May 6, 2003Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Dennis R. Morrison, Benjamin Mosier
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Patent number: 6558836Abstract: A process for making thin-film batteries including the steps of cleaning a glass or silicon substrate having an amorphous oxide layer several microns thick; defining with a mask the layer shape when depositing cobalt as an adhesion layer and platinum as a current collector; using the same mask as the preceding step to sputter a layer of LiCoO2 on the structure while rocking it back and forth; heating the substrate to 300° C. for 30 minutes; sputtering with a new mask that defines the necessary electrolyte area; evaporating lithium metal anodes using an appropriate shadow mask; and, packaging the cell in a dry-room environment by applying a continuous bead of epoxy around the active cell areas and resting a glass slide over the top thereof. The batteries produced by the above process are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2001Date of Patent: May 6, 2003Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Jay F. Whitacre, Ratnakumar V. Bugga, William C. West
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Patent number: 6559645Abstract: Transceiver and methods are included that are especially suitable for detecting metallic materials, such as metallic mines, within an environment. The transceiver includes a digital waveform generator used to transmit a signal into the environment and a receiver that produces a digital received signal. A tracking module preferably compares an in-phase and quadrature transmitted signal with an in-phase and quadrature received signal to produce a spectral transfer function of the magnetic transceiver over a selected range of frequencies. The transceiver initially preferably creates a reference transfer function which is then stored in a memory. Subsequently measured transfer functions will vary depending on the presence of metal in the environment which was not in the environment when the reference transfer function was determined. The system may be utilized in the presence of other antennas, metal, and electronics which may comprise a plastic mine detector for detecting plastic mines.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2001Date of Patent: May 6, 2003Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: G. Dickey Arndt, Phong H. Ngo, James R. Carl, Kent A. Byerly, John Dusl
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Patent number: 6558621Abstract: Biomedical devices that are to come into contact with living tissue, such as prosthetic and other implants for the human body and the containers used to store and transport them, are together cleaned of non-living, but biologically active organic materials, including endotoxins such as lipopolysaccharides, and assembled into a hermetically sealed package without recontamination. This is achieved by cleaning both the device and package components together in an apparatus, which includes a hermetically sealed chamber, in which they are contacted with atomic oxygen which biocleans them, by oxidizing the biologically active organic materials. The apparatus also includes means for manipulating the device and container and hermetically sealing the cleaned device into the cleaned container to form the package. A calibrated witness coupon visually indicates whether or not the device and container have received enough exposure to the atomic oxygen to have removed the organic materials from their surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2000Date of Patent: May 6, 2003Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Bruce A. Banks, Michael A. Banks, Eric B. Banks
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Publication number: 20030081833Abstract: A method, computer readable storage, and apparatus for implementing a recursive hierarchical segmentation algorithm on a parallel computing platform. The method includes setting a bottom level of recursion that defines where a recursive division of an image into sections stops dividing, and setting an intermediate level of recursion where the recursive division changes from a parallel implementation into a serial implementation. The segmentation algorithm is implemented according to the set levels. The method can also include setting a convergence check level of recursion with which the first level of recursion communicates with when performing a convergence check.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2001Publication date: May 1, 2003Applicant: National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventor: James C. Tilton
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Patent number: 6553286Abstract: A method for controlling a spacecraft comprising the steps of providing a first spacecraft in a known first predetermined orbit, and a second spacecraft in a second predetermined orbit. The distance between the first and second spacecraft is measured. The measured distance and data describing the known first predetermined orbit are used for determining an orbital error bias of the second spacecraft relative to the second predetermined orbit. The second spacecraft is maneuvered to compensate for the orbital error bias, and to maintain the second spacecraft in the second predetermined orbit.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2001Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: Space Systems/Loral, Inc.Inventors: Andrew E. Turner, John L. Watkins, Cornelius J. Westerhoff
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Patent number: 6551251Abstract: A fetal heart monitoring system and method for detecting and processing acoustic fetal heart signals transmitted by different signal transmission modes. One signal transmission mode, the direct-contact mode, occurs in a first frequency band when the fetus is in direct contact with the maternal abdominal wall. Another signal transmission mode, the fluid propagation mode, occurs in a second frequency band when the fetus is in a recessed position with no direct contact with the maternal abdominal wall. The second frequency band is relatively higher than the first frequency band. The fetal heart monitoring system and method detect and process acoustic fetal heart signals that are in the first frequency band and in the second frequency band.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2001Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Allan J. Zuckerwar, Dennis L. Mowrey
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Patent number: 6552521Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention uses a single detection system to approximate a location of lightning strikes. This system is triggered by a broadband RF detector and measures a time until the arrival of a leading edge of the thunder acoustic pulse. This time difference is used to determine a slant range R from the detector to the closest approach of the lightning. The azimuth and elevation are determined by an array of acoustic sensors. The leading edge of the thunder waveform is cross-correlated between the various acoustic sensors in the array to determine the difference in time of arrival, &Dgr;T. A set of &Dgr;T's is used to determine the direction of arrival, AZ and EL. The three estimated variables (R, AZ, EL) are used to locate a probable point of the lightning strike.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2001Date of Patent: April 22, 2003Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Pedro J. Medelius, Stanley O. Starr
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Publication number: 20030073803Abstract: Polyimides having a desired combination of high thermo-oxidative stability, low moisture absorption and excellent chemical and corrosion resistance are prepared by reacting a mixture of compounds including (a) 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA), (b) 3,4′-oxydianiline (3,4′-ODA), and (c) 5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylic anhydride (NA) in a high boiling, aprotic solvent to give 5 to 35 % by weight of polyamic acid solution. The ratio of (a), (b), and (c) is selected to afford a family of polyimides having different molecular weights and properties. The mixture first forms a polyamic acid precursor. Upon heating at or above 300° C., the polyamic acids form polyimides, which are particularly suitable for use as a high temperature coating, adhesive, thin film, or composite matrix resin.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2002Publication date: April 17, 2003Applicant: National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventor: Ruth H. Pater
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Patent number: 6547189Abstract: An inflatable module comprising a structural core and an inflatable shell, wherein the inflatable shell is sealingly attached to the structural core. In its launch or pre-deployed configuration, the wall thickness of the inflatable shell is collapsed by vacuum. Also in this configuration, the inflatable shell is collapsed and efficiently folded around the structural core. Upon deployment, the wall thickness of the inflatable shell is inflated; whereby the inflatable shell itself, is thereby inflated around the structural core, defining therein a large enclosed volume. A plurality of removable shelves are arranged interior to the structural core in the launch configuration. The structural core also includes at least one longeron that, in conjunction with the shelves, primarily constitute the rigid, strong, and lightweight load-bearing structure of the module during launch.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Jasen L. Raboin, Gerard D. Valle, Gregg A. Edeen, Horacio M. de la Fuente, William C. Schneider, Gary R. Spexarth, Shalini Gupta Pandya, Christopher J. Johnson
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Patent number: 6546714Abstract: A reduced toxicity fuel satellite propulsion system including a reduced toxicity propellant supply (10) for consumption in an axial class thruster (14) and an ACS class thruster (16). The system includes suitable valves and conduits (22) for supplying the reduced toxicity propellant to the ACS decomposing element (26) of an ACS thruster. The ACS decomposing element is operative to decompose the reduced toxicity propellant into hot propulsive gases. In addition the system includes suitable valves and conduits (18) for supplying the reduced toxicity propellant to an axial decomposing element (24) of the axial thruster. The axial decomposing element is operative to decompose the reduced toxicity propellant into hot gases. The system further includes suitable valves and conduits (20) for supplying a second propellant (12) to a combustion chamber (28) of the axial thruster, whereby the hot gases and the second propellant auto-ignite and begin the combustion process for producing thrust.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2001Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventor: Steven J. Schneider
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Patent number: 6545760Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring strain in an optical fiber using the spectral shift of Rayleigh scattered light. The interference pattern produced by an air gap reflector and backscattered radiation is measured. Using Fourier Transforms, the spectrum of any section of fiber can be extracted. Cross correlation with an unstrained measurement produces a correlation peak. The location of the correlation peak indicates the strain level in the selected portion of optical fiber.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2000Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Mark E. Froggatt, Jason P. Moore
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Patent number: 6545391Abstract: A device for providing an electromechanical response includes two polymeric webs bonded to each other along their lengths. At least one polymeric web is activated upon application thereto of an electric field and exhibits electrostriction by rotation of polar graft moieties within the polymeric web. In one embodiment, one of the two polymeric webs in an active web upon application thereto of the electric field, and the other polymeric web is a non-active web upon application thereto of the electric field. In another embodiment, both of the two polymeric webs are capable of being active webs upon application thereto of the electric field. However, these two polymeric webs are alternately activated and non-activated by the electric field.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2000Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Ji Su, Joycelyn S. Harrison, Terry L. St. Clair
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Patent number: 6543723Abstract: Systems and methods for launching a satellite into orbit that optimize the mass of the satellite delivered into orbit. A satellite carrying one or more chemical propulsion devices and one or more electric propulsion devices is launched into a transfer orbit using a launch vehicle. In one embodiment, a selected chemical propulsion device is fired to raise the orbit of the satellite from the transfer orbit to an intermediate orbit. One or more electric propulsion device is fired to raise the orbit of the satellite from the intermediate orbit to final geosynchronous orbit and the one or more electric propulsion device is throttled to produce variable thrust levels so as to operate at all optimum specific impulse level to optimize the mass of the satellite delivered into orbit. In another embodiment, the electric propulsion device may deliver the satellite into a near-geosynchronous orbit instead of final geosynchronous orbit.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2001Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Space Systems/Loral, Inc.Inventor: David Oh
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Patent number: 6546146Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of viewing and processing hyper-spectral image data compressed using a VQ algorithm. According to the invention the data is compressed using a codebook of codevectors including binary spectral vectors, which allows processing of the compressed data and viewing of data within a datacube without expanding the compressed data into the complete datacube. In order to view an image derived from a datacube, for each pixel within the image a location within the datacube is selected, an index value from the index map at that location is retrieved, and a spectral value from a spectral vector within the codebook is retrieved for said pixel, the spectral vector identified by the retrieved index. A single spectral vector is easily viewed by displaying a spectral vector from the codebook.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1998Date of Patent: April 8, 2003Assignee: Canadian Space AgencyInventors: Allan B. Hollinger, Shen-en Qian, Daniel J. Williams
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Patent number: 6539818Abstract: A process for testing compaction of a swaged heater for an anode sub-assembly of a Hollow Cathode Assembly (HCA), in which a test sample is cleaned, its mass measured before and after immersion in kerosene for 24 hours, and a compaction percentage calculated. A swaged heater is rejected if the compaction percentage exceeds 84%, plus or minus 4%.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2002Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Michael J. Patterson, Timothy R. R. Verhey, George C. Soulas
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Patent number: 6540426Abstract: A passive ball capture joint has a sleeve with a plurality of bores distributed about a circumference thereof and formed therethrough at an acute angle relative to the sleeve's longitudinal axis. A spring-loaded retainer is slidingly fitted in each bore and is biased such that, if allowed, will extend at least partially into the sleeve to retain a ball therein. A ring, rotatably mounted about the bores, has an interior wall defining a plurality of shaped races that bear against the spring-loaded retainers. A mechanized rotational force producer is coupled to the ring. The ring can be rotated from a first position (that presses the retainers into the sleeve to lock the ball in place) to a second position (that allows the retainers to spring back out of the sleeve to release the ball).Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2001Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventors: Richard A. Cloyd, Thomas C. Bryan
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Patent number: 6542479Abstract: A telecommunication system has a space segment which includes a satellite carrying a multibeam telecommunications payload and a terrestrial segment comprising gateways for access to a terrestrial network. There is one gateway within a terrestrial coverage of each beam or of a group of beams. User terminals communicate with the payload of the satellite. The payload has, on a forward path from any gateway to any user terminal, a frame by frame routing unit for messages transmitted in time division multiplex. On a return path from a user terminal to a gateway the payload has a routing unit operating within each group of carriers belonging to a given beam.Type: GrantFiled: December 9, 1999Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Assignee: Matra Marconi Space FranceInventors: Nicolas Boudier, Eric Alberty, Laurent Thomasson